Light reflecting device



Jan. 16, 1934.

c. A. PERSONS LIGHT REFLECTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 23, 1929 OHONOH Charles/l. Persons, [m/entor.

bl Wm Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITE-l) STATES 1,943,621 LIGHT REFLECTING DEVICE Charles A. Persons, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Persons Majestic Manufacturing Company,

Worcester,

setts Mass., a corporation of Massachut i 'Application January23, 1929. Serial No. 334,506

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved light reflecting device that is adapted to reflect and diffuse light coming from any extraneous source, with a wide angle,'so that the reflector is visible and will return light from a sourceappreaching the reflector directly, or at an angle to the axis of the reflector. I

My improved reflector is particularly adapted for use in highway signs and as the individual reflectors are constructed as similar units, a nume ber of such reflectors can be used in combination to spell out words, or can be arranged to represent other symbols, such as arrows indicating a direction. Such reflectors will also serve a useful purpose when placed on wharfs or piers or along the borders of a stream channel in places where the reflectors may pickup and reflect back the rays of a search light on a moving vessel. Furthermore, my improved reflectors can be placed singly -'or arranged in smaller groups on the rearends of motor vehicles where they will throw back the rays from the head lights of approaching vehicles.

A still further very important advantage of my invention resides in the fact that each reflector unit is yieldingly supported, so that the lens thereof is not damaged when the sign or other device in which said lens is installed is struck by a stone or the like or receives, in any way, an otherwise damaging blow. Furthermore, the

reflector units are so mounted as to be readilyremovable independently of each other. The above and other advantageous features of my invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description thereof,\taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of one of the reflector units of my invention, as adapted to be mounted in a sign or the flike.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of a unit as itappears when removed from the sign or other mounting.

Fig. 3 is a'perspective view, showing on an enlarged scale the device shown in Figs. 1. and 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view on a reduced scale, showing how a number of the units are combined to provide a sign.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a modification in the construction of the reflector unit.

Figs. 6 and '7 are views in side and front ele vation, respectively, showing a modified form of yoke for supporting a reflector unit.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring to the drawing, each reflector unit consists of a lens 1 that provides a generally frusto-conical body portion terminating at its ends in convex surfaces, 2 and 3, the surface 3 being considerably larger in diameter and having a larger radiusof curvature than the surface 2. The larger end of the lens 1 is received in a hollow cylindrical housing 4, the inside diameter of which is large enough to receive freely the periphery of the larger convex surface 3 of the lens 1. The housing 4 is of such depth as to receive a concave reflector 5 behind the lens 1, the reflector 5 being cup shaped to provide a cylindrical flange 6 which extends forwardly in close engagement with the wall of the housing 4 and so serves to determine the position of the lens 1 within the housing 4.

The closed end, or bottom, of the housing 4 is formed to provide a concave portion 7 having substantially the same radius as the reflector 5 thus providing a firm seat for the greater portion of the surface of the reflector proper. Preferably, the concave portion '7 does not include the entire area of the bottom of the housing 4, a flat annular portion'8 being formed around the concave portion '7 where it joins the cylindrical wall of the housing 4, the purpose of which. will hereinafter appear.

In assembling a reflector unit, the reflector 5 is first placed in the housing 4, after which the larger end of the lens 1 is inserted in the housing with the perimeter of the convex surface 3 in" engagement with the flange 6 of the reflector 5. In order to secure the lens 1' and the reflector 5 within the housing 4, a bead 9 is formed at the outer edge of the housing in any suitable, manner and within the bead 9 is placed a gasket 10 of semi-soft material such as lead or copper. The bead 9 is then spun down upon the tapered body of the lens 1, as indicated in Fig. 1, thereby secur ing the lens firmly in place in the housing 4, since the larger end of the lens is received within the unreduced portion of the housing 4. The gasket 10 makes a water tight joint between the lens 1 and the housing 4, and after spinning. any space which remains around the rim of the head 9 can be filled with a suitable material which tends to set'and harden, such as cement or solder.

In securing the lens 1 within the housing, it is not essential to employ the gasket 10, for as shown in Fig. 5, the bead may be omitted from the housing 4a and the open end, of the housing closed down upon the lens by spinning, as indicated at 11. Inthis form, the inside of the concave end In of the housing 4a can be burnished,

-'vided in the base of the yoke 12.

or plated, to provide a reflector for the lens 1a.

As previously pointed out, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide a reflector which when installed in the desired location is capable of yielding under pressure when subjected to a blow, thereby substantially preventing breakage of the lens 1 which returns to its original position as installed when the pressure is relieved. To this end, I resiliently support the housing 4 of each reflector unit upon a yoke 12 providing spaced parallel arms 13 which are arcuate in form. as shown in Fig. 2. The radius of curvature of the arms 13 is preferably made smaller than that of the housing 4 so that only the edges of the arms 13 are in contact with the housing 4, thereby reducing friction between the housing 4 and'the arms 13 to a minimum. In order to yieldingly support the reflector unit within the yoke 12, a coil spring 14 is interposed between the closed end of the housing 4 and the base of the yoke 12, one end coil of the spring 14 being in engagement with the flat portion ,8 at the end of the housing 4. The other end of the spring 14 is bent into an eye 15 for receiving the head of -a bolt 16 which passes through an opening 1'7 pro- The bolt 16 serves the double purpose of anchoring the spring 14 and providing means whereby the yoke may be secured to a back plate 18, by means of a nut 19 cooperating with the bolt 16.

Referring now to Fig. 4-, there is shown as an illustrative embodiment of my invention, a number of my improved reflector units arranged for use as a highway sign. In this particular embodiment, a front plate 20 is provided with a number of openings 21, one of which is shown in Fig. 1. The openings 21 in the plate 20 are arranged to spell the letters of any desired word, or warning, such as Stop andin each one of the openings 21 is received the smaller end of one of the lenses 1. Each opening 21 is of such diameter as to permit a portion of the conical body of the lens back of the face 2 to project through the opening. In assembling the sign, the desired number of units are secured by their yokcs 12 to the back plate 18 and the front plate 20 is then placed in position with all of the lenses 1 projecting through the openings 21, the distance between the plates 18 and 20 being such that when the plate 20 is secured in position the springs 15 are slightly compressed so that all the lenses are held firmly in position. At the same time the pressure exerted by the springs 15 is very slight, so that should the projecting lenses 1 be struck by any object, the lenses will yield simultaneously and the real shock of the blow will be taken by the front plate 20 without substantial damage to the lenses. When the pressure'on the lenses is removed as by the object falling to the ground below the sign, the lenses will all spring back into their original positions without in any way affecting the appearance of the sign.

As clearly shown in Fig. l, the smaller end of each lens 1 projects far enough through the front plate 20, so that the convex surface 2 is fully exposed, therefore each lens is adapted to collect and reflect back rays of light striking the lens at an angle to the axis of the lens, the total angularity approximating as indicated by the dot and dash lines. Consequently, the reflector or any number of them is extremely eflicient in providing a visible warning when installed in dangerous spots along the highway, or at separate intersections, since the rays of light from the head lights of a motor vehicle approaching the sign from any ordinary angle will be reflected back very strongly and the pattern of letters or figures in which the lenses are arranged will be brilliantly outlined.

As previously pointed out, it is a further object, of my invention to provide an improved mounting for a reflector unit so arranged that each individual unit may be readily removed from a supporting member independently of the other units with which the unit in question is associated. It is obvious from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the units shown therein are capable of being removed separately from the support 18 without affecting any other units carried by this support, and there is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 a modified form of supporting yoke whereby a unit may be installed, or removed, even more readily than as shown in the preceding figures.

As shown in Fig. 6, the modified yoke 22 is shorter than the yoke 12 and the arcuate substantially parallel arms 23 thereof have the same inside radius at the outside radius of the reflector unit housing 4, as indicated in Fig. 7. .Consequently, the housing 4 fits closely between the arms 23 and the yoke 22 is adapted to hold the unit firmly in position, although permitting the housing to be withdrawn readily. If desired, the arms 23 may be made slightly convergent, so that the inherent resiliency of the arms 23 will cause them to hold the reflector unit more tightly. I

I claim,

l. A light reflecting unit, comprising a double convex lens having a frusto-conical body between its convex surfaces, a hollowrcylindrical housing having one end closed and its other open end initially of such diameter as to receive and close- 13'; encircle the large end of said lens, a concave reflector at the closed end of said housing and a cylindrical flange closely fitting the wall of said housing for uniformly spacing the larger convex surface of said lens from said reflector with the circular rim of said flange abutting the larger convex lens surface to positively position said lens within said housing in cooperation with said housing with a concave reflecting surface having the same curvature as the larger convex lens surface, and an integral flange of cylindrical form closely fitting said body for uniformly spacing the larger convex lens surface from said reflecting surface,'the open rim of said housing being contracted upon the tapered body of said lens to positively maintain the outer circumferential portion of the larger convex lens surface in engagement with the open rim of said reflector flange.

CHARLES A. PERSONS. 

